Foreign Workers
Israel's rapid economic development
in recent years, coupled with its rising need for labor
- foremost in agriculture,
constructions and nursing - has recently made the country
a target for foreign workers. These people are willing
to work for wages that, though lower than the Israeli
norm, allow them to save and send money to their families
in the countries of origin.
The population of foreign workers in Israel today stands
at about 250,000 - of them 100,000 legally in the country,
and 150,000 illegals. The latter either come as tourists
and stay on, or come legally as foreign workers and
overstay their permit, or go to work for higher wages
to other employers. Foreign workers account for about
13 percent of the labor force.
Illegal foreign workers come from Romania, Ghana, Nigeria,
Colombia, the Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine Russia, and
other former Soviet countries, in all from sixty-seven
countries worldwide. Residents, even when illegally
in the country, are entitled to health and education
services and may complain to the police about offenses
against them. The police will deal with such complaints,
without taking their illegal presence into account.
A majority of illegal foreign workers lives in Tel
Aviv, and there are kindergartens, schools and clinics
that serve mainly them and their children.
The Ministry of Public Security and the Police enforce
punishment of employers who violate the rights of foreign
workers and supervise implementation of social rights.
The ministry also cooperates with local organizations
that operate on behalf of foreign workers. Problems
of illegal workers are mainly related to exploitation
- terms of employment; living conditions; social benefits
that fall short of accepted levels; denial of workers'
freedom and/or holding them as hostages; and, in extreme
cases, trade in these workers, in contravention of accepted
moral norms and mores. Thus, in July 2001 the Knesset
passed the Law for the Prevention of Trade in Human
Beings, which prescribes a maximum penalty of sixteen
years' imprisonment for this offense (twenty years when
the victim is a minor).
Israel regards illegal foreign workers mainly as victims
and the focus of its policy is to treat the causes of
victimization, rather than the results. In order to
stem illegal immigration, and above all "white
slavery", close and sustained cooperation with
the countries of origin, as well as those of transit,
is of importance. The authorities have arranged for
tougher control procedures, including sophisticated
technology, to prevent illegal immigration at the points
of entry into the country. Action is also taken to return
illegal workers to their countries of origin; a special
detention facility, with conditions much better then
in ordinary facilities, has been established to hold
up to 300 candidates for deportation.
Those arrested for illegal presence in the country
have three days in which to lodge an appeal against
deportation in court. A hearing, by a representative
of the Ministry of the Interior (with the status of
a judge) has to take place within 14 days; he has the
authority to nullify the deportation order, or to grant
release on bail.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry |